Social Dancing

This article is about the Bis album. For danceforms, see Social dance.

Social Dancing
Studio album by
Bis
Released22 March 1999 (Scotland)
10 August 1999 (US)
RecordedApollo (Glasgow)
GenrePost-britpop, indie rock, indie pop, pop punk, electropop
Length42:30
LabelWiiija
ProducerAndy Gill
Bis chronology
Intendo
(1998) 		Social Dancing
(1999) 		Play Some Real Songs: the Live Album
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert Christgau(2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention)[2]
Pitchfork5.1/10[3]
Spin6/10[4]

Social Dancing is the second studio album by the Scottish musical trio Bis, released in 1999.[5]

Critical reception

The Austin Chronicle thought that "while Social Dancing is enjoyable as a hyperactive whirl through Brit-pop forms of the Eighties and early Nineties, this homage to the material world lacks the rebel edge of the band's earlier work."[6] Rolling Stone noted that "this time the guitars are tuned, the drum-machine beats are smoother, and the pep-rally yelps are more determinedly melodic."[7]

AllMusic wrote that Bis "tried a whole bunch of different stuff, from more punky rave-ups to slinky trip-hop, and if the end result is a little scattered, it's also an enjoyable mess."[1]

Track listing

All songs written by Bis unless otherwise indicated.

  1. "Making People Normal" – 2:28
  2. "I'm a Slut" – 2:44
  3. "Eurodisco" – 4:41
  4. "Action and Drama" – 2:29
  5. "Theme from Tokyo" (Bis, Virgin Stigma) – 2:40
  6. "The Hit Girl" – 3:01
  7. "Am I Loud Enough?" – 3:12
  8. "Shopaholic" – 2:41
  9. "Young Alien Types" – 3:11
  10. "Detour" (Bis, Lois Maffeo) – 4:58
  11. "Sale or Return" (Bis, John Cacavas) – 2:58
  12. "It's All New" – 3:21
  13. "Listen Up" – 2:20
  • This is the UK/US CD release and matches the UK/US 12-inch release.
  • The Japanese release adds the songs "Germfree Adolescents" (originally by X-Ray Spex) and "Famous (Andy Gill Version)" to the end.
  • "Action and Drama" contains a sample of "New Breed" by the Mackenzies.
  • "Theme from Tokyo" contains a sample of "Groupie Girl" by Virgin Stigma.
  • "Sale or Return" contains a sample of "Agent Who" by John Cacavas.

Personnel

Bis

Additional musicians
  • Lois Maffeo – vocals on "Detour"
  • Vincent Flaming – violin on "Theme from Tokyo"
  • Alan Mason – violin on "Theme from Tokyo"
  • Helen Mosherry – cello on "Theme from Tokyo"
  • Martin Wiggins – viola on "Theme from Tokyo"
  • Andy Gill – occasional guitar and keyboards
  • Rik Flick – occasional guitar and keyboards
  • Richie Dempsey – drum kit sample
Technical
  • Andy Gill – producer
  • Rik Flick – engineer
  • Jason Famous – additional engineering
  • Bob Kraushaar – mixing
  • Joe Dilworth – photography
  • Manda Rin – artwork
  • Alison Fielding – artwork

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Japan Oricon Album Chart[8] 60
UK Albums Chart[9] 161

References

  1. ^ a b "Social Dancing - bis | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  2. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Bis". www.robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ "Bis: Social Dancing". Pitchfork.
  4. ^ Dolan, Jon (October 1999). "Reviews". Spin. 15 (10): 166.
  5. ^ "bis Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  6. ^ "BIS: Social Dancing". www.austinchronicle.com.
  7. ^ Chonin, Neva (16 September 1999). "Social Dancing". Rolling Stone. No. 821. p. 117.
  8. ^ "Japan: Album positions". oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  9. ^ "UK Chartlog". zobbel.de. Retrieved 2 January 2011.